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Yelm council affirms variance allowing single-access Palisades subdivision over safety objections
Summary
The Yelm City Council voted to affirm the hearing examiner’s decision to grant a variance allowing the Reserve at Palisades subdivision to move forward with 63 homes served primarily by Palisades Street, rejecting an appeal that argued the development violates Yelm Municipal Code and poses public-safety risks.
The Yelm City Council affirmed the hearing examiner’s decision to grant a variance for the Reserve at Palisades subdivision, allowing the developer to proceed with a plan for 63 homes that rely primarily on Palisades Street for access.
The outcome matters because opponents said the variance weakens the city’s subdivision access rules and could create a precedent for future developments that lack arterial or collector access. Appellant Justin Linson argued the examiner relied on speculative future road connections and on home sprinkler systems rather than present-day compliance with Yelm Municipal Code 18.52.080.
City Attorney Brent advised the council that this was a closed-record appeal: council members could review only the materials in the hearing record, the hearing examiner’s findings and conclusions, and applicable legal standards. Brent outlined the limited…
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